Pipeline Initiatives
As part of our ongoing commitment to the future of law, Leonard, Street and Deinard seeks to help pave the way for the future lawyers of tomorrow, helping them build the skills, confidence and experience that will serve them in their professional pursuits.
Just the Beginning Foundation
Leonard, Street and Deinard is a sponsor of Just the Beginning Foundation, which exposes youth from disadvantaged economic backgrounds to the practice of law, guided by the philosophy that the legal industry benefits from attracting individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. As a sponsor, the firm hosts a reception and several panel luncheons with attorneys and students, with topics focusing on understanding the various areas of law practice, honing writing skills by practicing drafting legal documents, and preparing for college. In addition, the students are immersed in a variety of environments, including court rooms, law firms and law school classes.
Women’s Debate Institute
Many of today’s brightest and best lawyers got their start in high school or college debate programs. To help students build their skills, Leonard, Street and Deinard is a sponsor of Women's Debate Institute,which provides young women the opportunity to be a part of a strong community of women who love debate and to gain intensive instruction from top-level debate coaches and national debate champions. The firm’s scholarship defrays the cost of participating in the Institute for one high school student each year.
Advocacy
SAGE Amendment
With the support and endorsement of the firm’s Board of Directors, Leonard, Street and Deinard adopted the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Self Audit for Gender Equity (SAGE) Amendment to provide a diverse slate of attorneys whenever we visit clients, participate in speaking engagements or assemble attorney teams for specific matters.
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
In 2009, Leonard, Street and Deinard became the first Minnesota firm to join the newly created Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, a national consortium of large law firms and in-house legal departments committed to diversity. In 2011, the firm participated in the inaugural LCLD Summer Scholars program.
Twin Cities Diversity in Practice
Leonard, Street and Deinard is one of the seven founding members of Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, a collaborative consortium of local law firms and others dedicated to advancing diversity in the Twin Cities legal community through programs to identify, hire and retain attorneys of color; forums and networking opportunities; outreach programs to law students of color; and initiatives in partnership with law schools, law school placement directors, student organizations and other professional organizations.
MNLegalDiversity.org
The firm is a founding sponsor of MNLegalDiversity.org, an initiative of the Minnesota State Bar Association to help attract diverse attorneys and law students to build their law careers in Minnesota. The Web site showcases the opportunities offered in Minnesota and directs practitioners and current and prospective law students to resources to establish a network and long-term contacts necessary for a successful career in law in Minnesota.
Minnesota Legal Diversity: Waves of the Future
The firm hosted a special event bringing together Minnesota legal leaders who are helping pave the way for a more diverse and inclusive legal community. Special guests included Chief United States District Judge Michael J. Davis; District Judge Donovan W. Frank (chair of the Diversity Committee of the Federal Bar Association) and Magistrate Judge Jeanne J. Graham (chair of the Diversity Committee of the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association).
Community
Awards
Along the way, as we have broken down barriers and set new standards of community service, our firm and our individual attorneys have been recognized for excellence and leadership.
Jefferson Award for Public Service
Leonard, Street and Deinard was honored with the Jefferson Award for Public Service, a prestigious recognition system honoring community and public service in America on a local and national level. Created in 1972, the Jefferson Awards were co-founded by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Sen. Robert Taft, Jr., and Sam Beard, founder and chairman of the National Development Council, to establish a Nobel Prize for public service. Leonard, Street and Deinard was singled out among Twin Cities-area businesses for its "outstanding philanthropic efforts"—namely, a history of extensive community outreach and pro bono service dating back almost 90 years.
John Minor Wisdom Award
The firm received the John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award by the American Bar Association in honor of our longstanding efforts to ensure that the legal system better meets the needs of the indigent and others. The award’s namesake, John Minor Wisdom, served for 42 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the American Bar Association medal for his “courageous and significant contributions to this nation’s progress toward equality among its citizens.”
Beacon of Justice Award
Leonard, street and Deinard received the Beacon of Justice Award, the highest honor given by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association for pro bono service in the area of immigration law.
Minnesota Women Lawyers “Leadership Award”
Leonard, Street and Deinard was honored with the Leadership Award from the Minnesota Women Lawyers organization for demonstrating a long-standing commitment to enhancing the status, effectiveness and influence of women lawyers.
A “Great Place to Work”
The firm was named one of Minnesota’s “Great Places to Work,” ranking among the top medium-sized businesses (101 to 1,000 employees) in the state, according to a survey by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. The recognition was based on a survey of the firm’s employees, who responded to questions about team effectiveness, trust, individual contribution, manager effectiveness, trust in senior leaders and work engagement.
Leonard, Street and Deinard was honored by the Work-Life Champions Partnership, which recognizes Minnesota employers who create a flexible and supportive workplace and enable their employees to meet a dual agenda: meeting family and personal responsibilities and achieving business objectives. Community Involvement Leonard, Street and Deinard is an active and visible sponsor of more than a dozen events each year in Minnesota that support diversity, including:
- Human Rights Campaign (annual dinner)
- Minnesota Women Lawyers (annual meeting, Rosalie Wahl Lecture and holiday benefit)
- Cesar Chavez Dinner at William Mitchell College of Law
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Breakfast
- The Juris Fiesta celebration at Hamline University School of Law
- The Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers (annual scholarship gala)
- The Minnesota Black Women Lawyers Network (Lena O. Smith luncheon)
- Midwest Region National Black Students Association
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association – Minnesota Chapter (annual gala)
- The Hispanic National Bar Association (35th Annual Convention)
- Hmong Bar Association
- Minnesota Lavender Bar Association
- The Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights (annual dinner and Foundation contribution)
- Just the Beginning Foundation (Summer Law Institute)
- Women’s Debate Institute (scholarship allowing a high school student to attend the Institute each year)
- The Given Foundation (Golf Classic)
- Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (Campaign for Legal Aid)
- ASANDC c/o Brotherhood, Inc.
- Minnesota American Indian Bar Association (golf tournament)
- Infinity Project (bench diversity event)
- YWCA Forums on Race
Irene Scott, in the center seat, was the first woman shareholder at a major Minnesota law firm. Here she joins women shareholders and associates at Leonard, Street and Deinard at the firm's 2011 Alumni Reunion.